Rastislav
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Chapter 6: First Steps
🕑 Added 2025-07-21 12:59:21 +0000 UTCAn: Added an EMP blocker to the Bipod, and gave the FBC a proper name.
As before, our local gremlin gave the chap a lookover.
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"You can stop doing that now." I deadpanned at the Latino.
My words were, of course, ignored, as he simply kept crossing himself "-espiritu sancti, amen."
"Jackie." Vik sighed in exasperation.
"Don't you Jackie me!" The poor brick rounded on him and then on me "You scared the soul outta me, choom!"
My shoulders wobbled awkwardly as I shrugged "You'd think you would have seen worse in this city."
"Jackie's overreaction aside" Doctor Viktor huffed as he lightly pushed the younger man's shoulder "Why the scary maw of death?"
I blinked "You mean to tell me your ideal form does not have teeth that can bite through titanium?"
Both of them nodded.
"Your loss then." I shrugged again, the movement feeling much smoother this time.
Jackie began muttering in Spanish again while Viktor just shook his head and smiled before turning serious and walking up to me "Need to run some diagnostics, just in case."
"Sure thing, Doctor" I nodded "Let me just give you access real quick."
I tilted my head, and disabled the Black Ice meant to fry anyone touching my internals, and opened the triple-shutter port on the back of my neck for his Personal Link.
"Just as cautious as I thought." He chuckled and jacked in. Immediately I felt his diagnostics going through my everything, even my Biopod which made me twitch slightly.
But my paranoia had its limits, so I let him continue.
He took a good five minutes before he pulled the cable back and smiled "Everything seems to be in order. No conflicts or errors I could detect."
"Naturally." I grinned, a bit amused as I saw a tiny bead of sweat go down the Doctor's face.
"So he isn't going cyberpsycho?" Jackie asked from his corner of the room.
"No, Jack. He isn't" Viktor deadpanned and shook his head.
"Full Body Conversions don't really have issues with cyberpsichosis." I explained as I began doing some small movements and stretches I pre-prepared "All parts are made to work specifically with each other, and there is no flesh-body interference or rejection."
"For real?" The Latino blinked.
"Yeah." I ever so slowly stood up after doing a squat, nearly bowling over with the movement "You do know why you take immunosuppressants, right? So that your body doesn't reject your implants." Pointing a thumb at myself I said "I have no such issues."
"Right, that." Jackie chuckled awkwardly "Maybe I should actually listen to Vik sometimes."
The Ripperdoc in question gave him a pointed look at that.
Naturally he just pretended he didn't see it.
Cautiously, I took a step forward.
Wobbled on my feet and then took another.
Before long, I was stepping through my room's entrance and moving into the main living area of the apartment.
The two of them followed after me, one looking downright giddy while the other seemed morbidly curious.
Without any reservation I swung the fridge open, grabbed a half-frozen SCOP burger, and promptly shoved it into my mouth.
My teeth immediately buzzed in reaction, and shredded the entire thing into tiny pieces before it could reach my throat.
The taste was utterly flat, bland, and frankly downright disgusting.
I immediately grabbed another.
My fascination with actually being able to eat something was only stopped when I got the notification in the back of my head and my Biogenerator began churning, whatever small bits of actual sustenance could be extracted from the fake food quickly being extracted by my Cyberstomach.
I was already grabbing my fourth burger when I heard Doctor Viktor clear his throat behind me.
"Ah" I paused and let my teeth shred the whole thing again "Sorry about that. Being able to eat is new."
Viktor nodded knowingly while Jackie winced and shook his head "Should have prepared something fancy for this man, not damn SCOP."
"All I ever knew was shitty nutritional fluid." 'And nanites' Went unsaid as I shrugged and pulled out a few more burgers "You two want some?"
My supply of nanite SCOP had to come from somewhere, as much as it annoyed mom that I took half the fridge.
Both of them immediately winced in disgust and shook their heads.
"More for me" I shrugged, but still tossed the things back into the fridge and closed it.
"So, Mike" Vik grinned at me "How does it feel to finally move around?"
I paused, mentally frowning "Still hasn't hit me yet, if I am being honest. And I can't let it hit me until I've found my mother."
Viktor's expression instantly sobered while Jackie looked both surprised and curious.
"Why don't you go put some clothes on first?" Viktor proposed leadingly.
Which immediately made me look down and realize I was indeed quite naked, and despite my relative lack of care for that I knew people tended to be rather miffed by seeing someone's dangly bits.
And of course I added the dangly bits to my body. Why would I not want to experience all life had to offer?
Shaking those thoughts away, I quickly hacked the indoor vending machine-
And boy was the upload of [Yoink.exe] smooth with my new Cyberdeck.
-and had it roll out a bunch of snacks and drinks for my guests.
"Be right back. Take whatever you want."
The Aspiring Solo
Jackie Welles breathed out a sigh of relief as the god damn fullborg he'd helped operate on (he held a box while staying reaaally still) left the room for the nearby closet.
"Damn" He muttered "This is not how I expected my day going."
Vik just chuckled and picked up a Nicola Premium from the now empty vending machine "Mike is a good kid. Life wasn't too kind on him so just give him a chance, yeah?"
Grumbling a bit, Jackie grabbed a Broseph and took a long gulp "Scares the shit out of me but yeah, I can't blame the guy."
Vik hummed "Listen, Jack." He said seriously "I need you to do me a favor."
The answer came with no hesitation "Just say the word, Vik."
"You remember Svetlana?" Vik asked.
Jackie scratched his chin for a moment before his eyes widened "The borged out chick? What about her?"
"That is her kid" Vik answered seriously, pointing his thumb at the closet "She went missing two days ago and he is hellbent on finding out what happened."
Jackie hissed "Ai, nasty shit."
"He probably has no idea what he is doing." Vik went on "So I need you to keep him safe. Someone like him... He could help a lot of people."
"You got it Vik" Jackie nodded seriously and tapped his holstered Unity "Won't let him flatline under my watch."
"Just try and not flatline yourself." Vik grumbled, taking another sip of his drink.
Before their conversation could go any further, their host returned from the closet, now dressed in slightly stretched black-grey synthweave pants, and a one size too small black hoodie, with the hood over his chromed head, and still nothing to cover his feet.
However what drew most of their attention was the bulging duffle bag he was carrying, and the weapon barrels sticking out from within.
Michael Sobronov
My mother's backup weapon bag hit the kitchen table with a rattle of metal and plastic "Sorry if I seem to be in a rush" I spoke without looking at the pair as I pulled out an old belt and began tying it around my waist "I am just waiting for the call before setting out."
"Kid" Doctor Viktor spoke up, tone grave "Do you even know what you are doing with those?"
"Point and click, Doctor." I answered simply, holstering mom's holdout Liberty on my belt, and grabbing an Igla alongside another belt of slugs "I am also mostly bulletproof so it isn't like I am committing protracted suicide either."
His breathing indicated he wanted to argue, but he stopped himself.
"So, Jackie" I spoke up after loading the double-barreled shotgun "I hear you will be helping me out." Feeling the two staring at my back I added "My Audioreceptors are quite sensitive. Thank you for caring, Doctor."
The older man shuffled just a touch awkwardly.
"Yeah, I'll help you out." Jackie Welles puffed out his chest "Any choom of Vik's is a choom of mine."
"Words of wisdom" I nodded with utmost seriousness "I will pay you after everything is settled as well. Charity does not put food on the table."
Not being a dumbass, the Latino just nodded.
Done with my own preparations, I pulled out a Copperhead assault rifle and a trio of magazines and offered it to him "You can use this."
"Ah, no need homes" He waved his hand and patted his gun "All I need is my Unity."
My eyes met Vik's briefly and I turned to Jackie "A Unity has almost no stopping power, why would you ever rely on something like that?"
"What's it to you, choom?" He turned a bit defensive.
"Just wondering why you consciously choose to be less effective." I shrugged, a tad annoyed I had to state the obvious.
"A Copperhead is just not my style, hermano." He stood up and patted his chest "Real Solos need panache, and no one wants to use that toygun."
I just stared at him for a long moment 'Another idiot taken by this city's blind consumerist culture. What a shame.'
Shaking my head I just accepted his words and slung the assault rifle over my shoulder, and pocketed a pair of fragmentation grenades.
The movies spoke true, there was no kill like overkill.
"You still have a lot to learn, choom" Jackie seemed amused now "Don't worry though, Heywood's own Jackie Welles will teach you!"
Once more I found myself staring at him "Sure thing... choom."
Doctor Viktor rolled his eyes.
Which reminded me "Thank you for your help today, Doctor Viktor. I will repay your kindness as soon as I am able."
He sighed "I already told you, don't worry about it, kid."
"No can do, sir." I rolled my accent a bit "A debt is a debt."
He shook his head "Sure, kid. And call me Vik. Doctor Viktor makes me sound old."
Just then, the call I had been waiting for rang at the edge of my interface. I raised my hand for them to be silent and scanned the caller.
One quick check later, and I let it through.
[Is this Magos?] The unfamiliar eyepatched woman wearing an obvious bulletproof vest asked.
[Magos: I am indeed he.]
An eyebrow was raised, no doubt surprised by my face.
[Regina Jones: I am Regina Jones, Watson Fixer. Our familiar contact said you had business with me.]
Guess I owed Yoko bigtime now...
[Magos: I do indeed. Svetlana Sobronov, I need to find her as soon as possible.]
It took her a few moments to answer.
[Regina Jones: Why?]
[Magos: Do you really need my reasoning?]
[Regina Jones: I don't just give out deets on my mercs to anyone who asks.]
[Magos: As long as they don't put out enough eddies first.] I answered mockingly.
But before she could reach for some stupid power play and tell me to fuck off, I went on.
[Magos: I am a concerned family member. She went missing two days ago while working for you. I need her last known location alongside whatever else you are able to provide.]
Again, my words made her pause.
[Regina Jones: I was unaware she had any family.]
[Magos: I suspect most Fixers don't bother learning every detail about their rank and file, miss Jones.]
[Regina Jones: True... And a netrunner of your rep can't find her on your own?]
No doubt looked me up when Yoko called her. Another power play?
[Magos: Not in time. I mostly focus on programming, netrunning is a side job at most.]
I saw both her eyebrows rise through the call.
[Regina Jones: A side job?]
[Magos: That is irrelevant at the moment. Can you help me?]
She spent a good moment considering before giving her answer.
[Regina Jones: Sure, sending you the deets now.]
[Magos: The cost?]
[Regina Jones: Finding one of my more reliable mercs. Someone of her chrome level not touched by cyberpsychosis is not common in Night City. And she is not a gonk looking to become a Legend, which is even rarer.]
But you didn't want to spend the resources on rescuing her yourself?
How typical.
[Magos: Mutual interest then.]
[Regina Jones: You some kind of corpo?]
[Magos: Why does everyone keep saying that...]
Ah, I transferred that through the call on accident...
The woman, to my surprise, huffed in amusement.
[Regina Jones: Guess not. Anyway, short version is: She was doing a small Scav cleanup at 122 Charter St. Just five gonks that needed scraping off the floor. She reported success but I haven't heard anything from her after.]
The Fixer frowned.
[Regina Jones: I thought she went back home to take a break and cool down.]
[Magos: I assure you, the last time I saw or heard from her was when she went to work for you two days ago.]
[Regina Jones: I see...]
Once again, the silence stretched. And just as I was about to politely end the call, she spoke up again.
[Regina Jones: I have a gig to offer you.]
[Magos: I will not insult your intelligence by telling you I am currently otherwise occupied. With that in mind, what do you need?]
[Regina Jones: When you go to find Svetlana, I want to be kept up to date. The more you find out the more I will pay you, but don't expect big eddies from this.]
Not completely profit driven then? Or is she simply scouting out my own potential?
Doesn't matter now.
[Magos: Fine. I will keep in touch.]
[Regina Jones: Good luck, Magos.]
And with that, the call ended.
"You got a lead?" Vik asked as he saw me end the call.
"The start of one, at least." I nodded "Hopefully there will be clues to find, or at least some cameras I will be able to rip apart for them."
"So, we heading out?" Jackie looked excited.
"You good to go back on your own, Vik?" I asked "You can always just stay here if you prefer."
"I will stretch my legs a little, don't worry you two." Vik waved us off.
We made a few last moment checks, and soon I was awkwardly walking out of my apartment for the first time, the relatively quiet bustle of my floor greeting me on the other side.
But before we could reach the lift, Jackie stopped me, and pointed in another direction "You can't be walking to your first gig like that, choom." He grinned "Time for Jackie to teach you some style."
After walking into a nearby clothes store, and scaring the absolute shit out of Madam Ling who was one of my own customers (I had to call her to calm her down), we were finally ready.
With a synthleather coat in black with red accents, and a red eastern dragon on its back, and a biker helmet of the same coloring, I stepped into the megabuilding's lift.
When the sun hit my face for the first time in forever, all I could do was stand there and bask in the feeling.
Not even the people flinching away the moment they saw my unclothed hands and feet could ruin this for me.
But I could not bask in the freedom of movement forever.
My mother needed saving, and some bastards needed their innards painted on the wall for the audacity of trying to harm her.
"Oi, choom." Jackie yelled as I began walking "Wait, let me call my bike!"
"It's just a twenty minutes walk, Jackie." I said without turning "Or are you going to tell me your bike is rated for 500 pounds of chrome?"
Not even a moment later, he jogged up to me "A walk sounds fine, choom."
Chuckling both at the sheepish Latino, and the pathetic weasels who practically jumped out of my way, I marched my way into the bowels of Night City.
Comments
Scarletmenace
I love cyberpunk, and this is easily one of the best ones I’ve read. Keep up the good work m8
Rastislav
That sounds vaguely familiar, what is the name?
Mr Caine
Yeah this is so fucking peak bro, honestly reminds me of another cyberpunk ff I was reading where the MC is a rogue AI who steal's Corpo V's body. So fucking peak bro
